By Dave laughs at this photo. “That’s not a flood, it’s a mud puddle.”
Well, whatever.
It’s my hometown of Pawnee Rock, during the so-called Flood of July 12, 1915.
Everyone (apparently only males occupy the town, or are allowed to view flood damage) is wearing a hat and there appear to be a lot of boy urchins with their trousers rolled up.
The signs on the buildings in the middle of the photo read: Post Office – Pawnee Rock and behind that, Soda Fountain.
When my brother posted a Pawnee Rock elevator gallery on his site, I dug out my old elevator pictures for him and found this flood photo among the others.
The belts on the right center makes me think these are connected to a steam engine pumping water. See the serge of water at the alley sidewalk end?
Maybe the Pawnee Rock Chamber of Commerce was hosting the annual rubber duck races.